Question for working MoM's

*Duchess*

I'm due in April and plan on taking a 2-ish month maternity leave-not counting any bedrest prior to their birth.  Then I plan to go back to work full time.  I work at an accounting firm (I'm not a CPA though). 

My question is, can I get the babies on a workable schedule by 8 weeks?  Is going back to work full time doable?  I'm starting to worry that full time would be difficult.  My husband (military) will be staying home with them 3 days a week and they will go to daycare on Thursday and Friday. 

I guess I'm looking for suggestions on how you make it work.  Thanks in advance!

MrsDonnelly2007

I think it's doable. I went back to work when the boys were 6 months; however, they've pretty much been on the same eating schedule since they were in the NICU.  They eat every 3 hours.  Key is, when you feed one, feed both, one goes down for a nap, both go down, one wakes up, get the other one up.  Just make sure daycare sticks to whatever schedule you guys have worked out, my daycare wanted me to let them have the boys nap whenever they wanted but I pushed and stressed that they both need to be on the same schedule.  Good Luck!!

tmbuchmann

You just make it work! I went back to work 6 weeks post partum, it was really hard but I was ready to be on a schedule and going back is really what put me on that schedule. So I get up at 6:30, start to dress/feed whomever is awake, get myself ready and then dress/feed who ever is next awake. by 7:30 I have all three kids dressed and the dogs fed and into the car we go. My older DS eats b-fast at daycare and I take a shower the night before.

I hope this helps, just find your own routine and then you will get into the habit of doing that every morning! GL!

DarthBaby

I went back full time after 8 weeks. Now as far as getting them on a schedule - eh. The only thing I wanted to make sure they were doing was going to bed in their cribs, and at least knowing what night time is.

When I went back they were probably getting up twice a night, my DH got up once and I got up the other time. In a couple weeks they were down to one time a night. 

 It is doable - but you will be tired. That is just a fact. I mostly concentrated on them eating a lot and getting their nights and days correct. A schedule after that was too hard for me to do.

 Good luck!

*Duchess*

Thanks ladies!  This is putting my worry wart mind at ease a bit!  They are my first (and second), so I don't know what to expect as far as night feedings, etc.  It helps that daddy will be home with them 3 days a week.  I have a 30 minute commute, so we've kind of planned that daddy will do morning duty (getting them up, dressed and fed), so I can get myself out the door.  Its a little daunting from my viewpoint, but to see that other MoM's can do it makes me feel better

I'm completely open to finding a new (part time) job, but that scares me in this economy.  I think we'll just see how it all goes and take it from there. 

Thank you ladies!  I really appreciate your advice!

Shannonlea

You can totally do it! I went back to work at 11 weeks and even continued to pump until 6 months and I made it work.  Some of my suggestions are:

 

1. Check out different books on schedules.  We used The EASY method from The Baby Whisperer and it worked for us.  My babies were on a schedule by 4 weeks and sleeping through the night at 8 weeks.  But everyone is different and you need to find out what works for you

 

2. Get a dayplanner.  I schedule every.single.thing during the day and it saves my life. 

3. Do a lot the night before.  We make lunches, bottles, iron clothes, etc the night before.  Makes the mornings easier.  I also get up 45 minutes early in the AM and get a lot done before the kids get up.

4. Get some help.  I didnt do this much but I wish I did.  If its family or just a neighbor girl down the street, have someone come and help you for an hour or two after work- just one night a week.  This gives you time to clean, cook, do laundry, whatever

 

 

OrangeSmoke

You can totally do it! I was lucky enough to be off for 4 months after the babies, but I could've totally have done it after 8 weeks (not that I wanted to!).

I think a big part of it will be what kind of babies you get.  My kids were super easy and by 8 weeks they were sttn.  By 3 months they were doing 10 hour stretches.  Also, given that your husband will be h ome 3 days a week, it'll make things easier for you too since you don't have to rush them out the door.

I would recommend getting them on a schedule during the day asap (we did EASY loosely) and getting them into a bedtime routine.  You'll be going back to work and gonna need  your beauty rest!

*Duchess*

Thanks for the heads up on the books and getting them on a schedule.  I'm not counting on "easy" babies, but that would sure make my life easier

 

Temp159135562506975

Read babywise - it's your best bet to get them on a schedule that fast, as well as STTN as soon  as possible.  I followed Babywise with all of my boys and all 3 of them were STTN at 8 weeks and on a 3-hour rotation for sleep/eat/play - it worked great for us.

you will still be tired as hell even if they start STTN at that time...  And again- this is if you get to full term.  If your babies are preemies it's gonna be a LOT harder to get them on a schedule and STTN - so nothing is set in stone --- be aware you might need to take more time off.... start saving for it now.